When to use a comma between a name and a noun:
* Appositives: An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or clarifies the noun before it. You use a comma to separate an appositive from the noun it modifies.
* Example: "My friend, John, loves to play basketball."
* "We met Mr. Smith, the principal, at the school event."
* Direct Address: When you directly address someone, you use a comma to separate their name from the rest of the sentence.
* Example: "John, can you please pass the salt?"
* "Mom, I'm going to the park."
When to NOT use a comma between a name and a noun:
* Directly modifying the noun: If the name is directly describing the noun, a comma isn't needed.
* Example: "The Smith family is going on vacation." (Smith modifies family).
* "I bought a Shakespeare play at the bookstore." (Shakespeare modifies play).
* Part of a title: When a name is part of a title, a comma is not used.
* Example: "I read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald."
In short, use a comma between a name and a noun if the name acts as an appositive or is used in direct address. Otherwise, you usually don't need a comma.